League Play-Off

Harold Hill
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Glyn Littlechild took the kick off in the first half of the match. Gerry Roberts received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Keith Downham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gerry Roberts got free with Keith Downham in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Vince Sutcliffe fell near the penalty area in the 14th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Leek FC's protests and gave Vince Sutcliffe a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Leek FC's Vince Sutcliffe got a free kick in the 14th minute. Ray Denham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Robert Rockett tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Robert Rockett came out of the goal in the 24th minute to try and stop a shot by Leek FC's Ray Denham. But to his dismay, Ray Denham quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After 26 played minutes Leek FC got a freekick which was hit by Sonny Salmon. Keith Downham took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Glyn Littlechild, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Harold Hill AFC's zone, Jon Venables stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Robert Rockett came out of the goal and Jon Venables tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ray Denham in the 38th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Robert Rockett prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Shane Gallacher sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ray Denham might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Robert Rockett. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ray Denham ran back to his position shaking his head. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jon Venables was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, Harold Hill AFC's Robert Rockett got control of the ball when Ray Denham tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Harold Hill AFC's zone, Ray Denham stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Robert Rockett came out of the goal and Ray Denham tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 56 minutes, Lee Morgan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Harold Hill AFC and the Leek FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ray Denham struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Robert Rockett didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Leek FC. After having played for 59 minutes, Gerry Roberts managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Harold Hill AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gerry Roberts was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 61st minute, Glyn Littlechild left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Harold Hill AFC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Harold Hill AFC's Robert Rockett played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Shane Gallacher in the 69th minute of play. Ray Denham's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 70thth minute, Robert Rockett skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Ray Denham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Luke Glanvill's late challenge caught a Leek FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Luke Glanvill helped the player get up and apologised. If Jon Venables had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jon Venables sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gerry Roberts fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Keith Downham having to interfere. 88 minutes into the match, Harold Hill AFC's Gerry Roberts sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Keith Downham narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Glyn Littlechild received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Keith Downham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 92nd minute, Lee Morgan made a precise shot to the right of Keith Downham. Leek FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. Robert Rockett made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jon Venables in the 96th minute of play. For all the effort they put into the match, the Leek FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Harold Hill AFC.